[size=14pt]Jonathan begins probe of agric ministry, others [/size]
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Published: Wednesday, 3 Mar 2010

Indications emerged on Tuesday that several contracts awarded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, including multi-billion naira dam and silo construction schemes, top the list of projects to be probed by the Federal Projects Assessment Committee, which was set up by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.

The FPAC was mandated to assess the status of all ongoing Federal Government projects across the nation and subsequently report back to the government.

The committee’s scope of work involves the assessment of all ongoing projects in all the various ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

However, a source in the Presidency informed our correspondent on Tuesday that huge projects awarded in the recent past under the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources were of utmost importance in the mandate of the FPAC.

The source, who did not wish to be named, explained that “some of the projects that would be accorded priority attention have not really taken off even though funds meant for their execution have been paid to the respective contractors, while in other cases, the concerned projects have been abandoned half way.”

The probe, according to the source, will involve contracts for the construction of dams and implementation of irrigation projects in some states worth about N30bn.

The projects include contracts for the construction of a dam in Katsina State for of N1.19bn; the Ogbese dam project in Ekiti State, valued at N5.49bn; the Zobe dam project also in Katsina State valued at N6.86bn; the New Nigeria Farmers project in Kwara State for N2.82bn and other irrigation projects in various states valued at N3.71bn.

The FPAC will also probe the execution of silo construction projects sited in various parts of the country.

These include the construction of silos in the Federal Capital Territory in the sum of N4.17bn, Katsina State at a cost of N4bn and in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State for N1.73bn.

The utilisation of the N4.73bn released from the 2009 allocation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, which represents 25 per cent of the Federal Government grant for a tractor hiring scheme in partnership with private sector investors would also come under probe, it was learnt.

The committee will also assess the utilisation of the sum of N2. 892bn, being 40 per cent of a Federal Government grant to six selected private firms for the establishment of export handling, preservation and conditioning centres in six locations across the country.

Also, the disbursement of the Federal Government’s 40 per cent credit facility, amounting to N9.52bn, to ten selected rice processing companies for the procurement, installation and setting up of model rice processing mills will also be assessed by the FPAC.

The rice processing mills are to be cited in Adamawa, Benue, Ekiti, Niger, Kano, Taraba, Kebbi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ogun and Anambra states.

The source added that, besides the projects under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, ongoing contracts under the Federal Ministry of Works, especially federal road projects, are also of “top priority importance to the committee”.

The source noted that “billions of dollars have been sunk into the roads without any significant result”.

Other areas that would receive greater scrutiny, according to the source, are ongoing projects under the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, including the annual spending of over N600bn on subsidies, projects under the Millennium Development Programmes Goals (MDGs) and the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP).

The Acting President had on Monday set up the Federal Projects Assessment Committee to probe the status of all ongoing Federal Government projects.

It is expected that, by the time the committee turns in its report in three months time, some of the ongoing projects could be suspended or cancelled outright.

The expectation follows the mandate given to the committee by the Acting President, which includes carrying out a physical inspection of the projects to establish the level and quality of work so far done, and determine the professional competence of the concerned contractor.

The terms of reference of the FPAC are: Take inventory of all on-going Projects awarded by the Federal Government; assess the level of funding of each project; undertake a physical inspection of each project to determine work done and to ascertain whether it is commensurate to the amount paid to the contractors; evaluate the professional competence of the contractors handling the various projects; and determine whether the level of execution of the projects is in accordance with the terms of the contract agreement between the Federal Government and the contractor.

Also, the committee is to examine a plan of action that is realistic, practical and achievable including implementation phases for the execution of the projects; examine the reason given if applicable why the projects were not executed in accordance with the terms of contract agreement at the time of the award; and make appropriate recommendations to Government on how to fast-track the completion of the projects.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201003030561015

It might be necessary to actually sack and jail FEC members for the Nigerian populace to be satisfied. Probing isn't enough.

Kai . . . . .Nija don suffer

I hope that at d end of d day, they wouldnt set up another committee to probe d present committee? Na naija we dey!

and one year after?

over to gej's handlers

i too shal start digging up all the bs that was posted in the past

Story , Story , Story ,
its all a family affair, look its bello adoke coming in to save his colleagues ,everything swept under the carpet and is history.

Does GEJ thinks Nigerians are fools.what happened to the so called committee setup to investigate the Airport runway contract , what were their recommendations, was anyone jailed,charged to court or barred from public office.

Mr. Beaf , i swear even you ,know say,all this na pdp washing (wayo wayo), deep down inside you weep for nigeria, you weep at the incompetence of your boss:GEJ.You show so much fire, you actualy seem like a progressive, but you have been paid to do a good job, the progressive inside you is coming out to post this things, but deep down, you know the truth, Goodluck is another round of wayo wayo government.

If we want fresh air in nigeria, we need a revolution in Government,

safeact:

I hope that at d end of d day, they wouldnt set up another committee to probe d present committee? Na naija we dey!

Yeah, like the Elumelu-led committee setup to probe power contracts and then another committee drafted to probe the Elumelu-led committee. Never a dull moment in the Nigerian political arena.